Hurricane force winds and tropical downpours are slamming the Caribbean Islands Saturday as Hurricane Tammy bears down on the eastern side of the Lesser Antilles.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Nevis and Anguilla. Hurricane Watches cover Dominica, Saba and St. Eustatius.

The center of Tammy will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands through early Sunday, and then move north of the northern Leeward Islands by Sunday afternoon.

Category 1 Hurricane Tammy is currently moving northwest at a slow 9mph, before taking a turn more to the north-northwest on Sunday and Monday.

Hurricane Tammy has maximum sustained winds near 80 mph with higher gusts. Tammy is expected to remain a hurricane while it passes near or over the Leeward Islands over the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

The storm is somewhat slow moving so heavy rain and flooding will be a concern. Tammy is expected to bring up to 12″ to the Leeward Islands and up to 6″ across the Windward Islands.

British and Virgin Islands will have lower rain totals, up to 4″, as the storm is expected to start turning north and puling away the tropical downpours.

Storm surge forecasts call for 1 to 3 feet of rising water across the Leeward Islands through Saturday night.